Interview of Charm of Finches by Freya Bennett
Melbourne folk-pop sister duo Charm of Finches, known for their intricate harmonies and evocative storytelling, have just released their new single Meteor. Inspired by the raw power of nature and the complexities of the inner world, the song was recorded by the ocean in Victoria and mixed in Canada by acclaimed producer Daniel Ledwell. Ahead of their upcoming tour and a creative immersion in Scotland, Mabel and Ivy Windred-Wornes share the personal and natural inspirations behind Meteor, the magic of recording by the sea, and the vision behind their enchanting new music video.
Hi Mabel and Ivy, how are you both going and where are you responding from today?
Hello! We’re great! We’re currently in Melbourne, where we’ve been having a nice bit of down time after touring around Australia and New Zealand at the beginning of the year. It’s lovely to get back into recording and releasing music again.
Meteor is inspired by “powerful forces of nature that reflect a tumultuous inner world.” Can you share a bit about what sparked the idea for this song?
This song came out of a bit of a turbulent time personally. It contemplates the sometimes fraught relationship with the self. We’ve visited many dramatic landscapes this year. We hiked up an active volcano in New Zealand and visited the Daintree Rainforest up in Northern Queensland – the oldest rainforest in the world. We think that witnessing the power and grandeur of nature really influenced the writing of this song. At the time we were listening to one of our favourite albums ‘Year of Meteors’ by Laura Veirs and an incredible album called ‘The Rocket Ship is Haunted’ by our talented friend Husky Gawenda. The galactic theme really captured our imaginations.
Recording by the ocean in Victoria sounds magical, how did that environment shape the mood or sound of Meteor?
We were so happy to go back to Nick Huggin’s studio in Point Lonsdale here in Victoria. He recorded our first two albums back when we were teenagers and it was so nice to work with him again. He has such a peaceful studio appropriately called Resting Bell and it’s a 5 minute walk from the ocean. Whenever we go to record there, we start the day with a walk on the beach. Nick is such a calm presence and together I think we all tapped into that creative experimental headspace in such a relaxed environment. We were lucky to have the talented Miguel Hutton in the session playing drums, and some fun experimental keys parts.
You’ve worked with Daniel Ledwell on previous albums. What was different or special about producing Meteor this time?
We recorded our last album ‘Marlinchen in the Snow’ over in Canada with Daniel Ledwell. We love working with Dan so much, and we couldn’t get to his studio in Canada this time, so it was a really nice opportunity to collaborate with both Nick and Dan. Once we were done tracking in the studio, we sent the files over to Dan in Canada to mix and add a final sparkle to it. It’s always exciting to get a mix back from Dan. He has a way of creating a unifying world within the mix, he’s got some magical musical mixing wizard skills!
Your music feels so expansive and emotional. How do you bring concepts like turbulence to life in your songs?
This song started with lyrics that just poured out like a poem, and as you hear, it’s very draped in metaphors and speaks to a more vulnerable part of the self. For us, we see inner turbulence reflected in the dramatic forces of nature. Meteors, hurricanes, bolts of lightning. They aren’t good or bad. They just are. It felt fitting to tie the internal and external world together in that way.
Your upcoming Scotland trip sounds amazing! What about the landscapes or culture there are you most excited to weave into your new album?
Yes! We can’t wait to go back to Scotland. Last year, we played at Orkney Folk Festival at the very top of Scotland. The dramatic landscape took our breath away, and we told each other we had to come back. Every week off that we had on the tour, we returned to Scotland, befriending musicians in Glasgow and dragging our instruments from pub to pub to play music. We climbed mountains in the rain and pet shaggy cows. Each visit was too short; we’d head south for more touring, feeling again and again a longing to stay and immerse ourselves more deeply. We’re keen to write songs by the windswept coast of Skye and climb mountains in the Highlands, join pub sessions in Glasgow and absorb the vibrant musical culture that seems to hum underneath the city. We’ll then head into the studio to record a new album. It’s hard to say what will happen musically, but we’re excited to see how this experience will influence the music!
We’ve launched an Australian Cultural Fund to help us pay for the many costs that come with making a record. You can check it out HERE
You have also made a music video for Meteor. Tell us a bit about that.
We love to create music videos that are sort of like mini short films. We drew aesthetic inspiration from Yellow Jackets with a sprinkle of Narnia.
We got out the glue guns and handcrafted elven twig crowns and feathered costume pieces, and even painted an animal skull mask. We collaborated with our incredible friends who helped us design and put together the costumes, source props as well as dance and act in it! We wanted to capture a magical, powerful, natural world and incorporate the beauty of the Australian landscape.
When someone listens to Meteor for the first time, what feeling or image do you hope stays with them?
We think this song is a reminder to love fully and live passionately and boldly. To turn strong feelings inside you into bright and beautiful things. For anyone who needs that reminder right now, this one’s for you.
